VETERINARY JURISPRUDENCE. 
255 
the absence of other disease and the fact that the horse was lame. The 
lameness was so evident, that it was impossible for me to come to any 
other conclusion. I saw the horse trotted upon pavement. 
Supposing the horse .was lame upon the 20th November from that, 
disease, would you have expected that that lameness had commenced 
long before November?—It is quite possible it might have been in 
existence some time, the joint being incipiently unsound and defective 
before November, the disease being in a latent state, and remained 
stationary; that is, a slight degree of tenderness existed, but not 
amounting to lameness, -would he set up, whenever he was put to work 
previous to November. 
I ask you, was there anything in the state of the fact when you saw 
it inconsistent with the theory or supposition that the disease may have 
commenced after November ?—There was. 
What ?—The absence of distinct symptoms of recent disease. 
You say it creeps on sometimes without producing any acute inflam¬ 
mation. Would inflammation be the only symptom?—No. Heat in 
the foot and throbbing of the artery. Contraction of the foot is not a 
necessary symptom of navicular disease. 
Pleat is the result of the inflammation ?—It is. 
Ileat merely indicates the presence of the inflammation? (No answer.) 
Mr. Justice Blackburn: —When you saw it on the 7th of March, was 
there anything inconsistent with the lameness having commenced since 
the 20th of November?—It was inconsistent, in my opinion, to believe 
that there was any cause of lameness originating since that time. If it 
had originated since then, there would have been symptoms of heat and 
tenderness in the foot. On the 7th of March there was tenderness in 
the navicular joint, but not in the other parts. 
Was there anything different in the degree of tenderness which 
existed on the 7th of March and that which exists now ?—No. 
There was no heat on the 7th of March?—No. In a recent case we 
find tenderness on the least tapping round the foot. We tap round it 
with a hammer. I tapped the foot round on that day, and he evinced 
no tenderness. 
Do you mean, by recent lameness, lameness commencing from some 
accident or some strain ?—(No answer.) 
Mr. Roger Hampson, of Manchester, was then sworn, and gave evidence 
that he was a veterinary surgeon, and also a member of the Itoyal College 
of Veterinary Surgeons, London, that he examined this gelding on the 7th of 
March, 1863, and also on the 26th of February, 1864, that the horse was un¬ 
doubtedly lame on the near fore foot, from chronic navicular disease ; the 
lameness was the same on both occasions. 
Mr. Thomas Taylor , V. N, of Manchester, was then sworn, and gave 
evidence that he had examined this gelding on the 7th of March, 1863, 
and also on the 26th of February, 1864, that he was undoubtedly lame 
of the near fore-foot on both of these occasions, and that the lameness 
was attributable to chronic navicular disease. 
The defendant was then sworn, and proved that he had had the gelding 
thirteen months; that he had hunted him, and had him with the cavalry, 
and up to the day of sale he had never been lame; his nephew also proved 
the same. The shoeing smith swore to his never having been lame to his 
knowledge. 
Mr. Peter Taylor , V. iS., was then sworn, and gave evidence as follows— 
Examined by Mr. Serjeant O'Brien: —Are you a veterinary surgeon, 
Mr. Taylor ?—Yes, I am. 
How long have you practised ?—For nineteen years. 
